A mark of respect shown by a Gandharva resulted in a quarrel among sacred rivers, said Sarala Rajagopalan in a discourse. The legend is that once the rivers were indulging in some playful pastimes on the Himalayas. A Gandharva who was passing by brought his palms together in salutation and bowed before them. The rivers wondered which of them had been saluted by the Gandharva. While other rivers gave up the argument after some time and went away to irrigate fields in the lands through which they flowed, Cauvery stayed on to fight with the river Ganga. There seemed to be no solution to the fight between the two. They then appealed to Lord Mahavishnu for a solution.
River Ganga said that she was unique. She had originated from the feet of Lord Mahavishnu. Who else could claim such a privilege, she asked. Lord Mahavishnu gave His judgement in favour of Ganga. This angered Cauvery further. She vowed that she would one day be considered even holier than the Ganga. To achieve this, she did penance. The Lord was pleased with her penance and appeared before Cauvery. He assured her that He would recline in such a way that the Cauvery would flow around Him like a garland. He added that she would also be praised as being holier than the Ganga.
As promised by the Lord, an island appeared between the Cauvery and its tributary — Kollidam. A temple for Lord Ranganatha, who was worshipped by the Ikshvaku dynasty to which Lord Rama belonged, was established on the island. Here, in Srirangam, He reclines on His serpent bed, blessing countless devotees every day. While praising Lord Ranganatha, Tondaradippodi Azhvar said that the Cauvery was holier than the Ganga. Thus, Cauvery’s wish was fulfilled.
